The Aucklanders eventually overcame the Japanese team, who dominated the early exchanges of a match.

"It was a good result and a good performance against a professional team very similar to Sanfrecce Hiroshima," said Tribulietx.

"It proved to our players that we can play the style we play against a professional team and be successful."

Tribulietx was able to give most of his squad game time but now has a selection headache with a number of players putting up their hand for a starting slot.

Goalscorers Luis Corrales and Emiliano Tade delivered top performances off the bench with Corrales notching his fourth goal of the season to go alongside strikes against Otago United and Waitakere United.

Tade's reputation as an impact player was enhanced when he guided home a header three minutes into the second half.

Corrales rounded off the scoring beating the Matsumoto goalkeeper in a one on one situation midway through the second half.

Matsumoto Yamaga created a number of decent chances in each half with goalkeeper Tamati Williams - and his second half replacement - Jacob Spoonley, both pulling off important stops.

Auckland's winning margin could have been even more had Pedro Santa Cecilia Garcia managed to score from 8 yards out with the Matsumoto goalkeeper nowhere to be seen.

The win is the fifth time Auckland City have downed professional opposition in a growing list that includes Al-Ahli 2-0(UAE), Central Coast Mariners 3-1(Australia), TP Mazembe (Congo) 3-2 and Japanese clubs Ryuzu Keizai 2-1, and Matsumoto Yamaga 2-0.